Configurable cummerbund for a tactical vest
A configurable cummerbund for a tactical vest can include a cummerbund front tip anchor located at the first end and having a first side and a second side; two or more webs attached to the cummerbund front tip anchor and extending along a length from the first end to the second end; a side panel attached to the webs; a cummerbund rear tip anchor located at the second end; and a cummerbund web slider located at the webs between the side panel and the cummerbund rear tip anchor. The webs can pass through and slidingly engage cummerbund web slider web channels of the cummerbund web slider, whereby the cummerbund web slider can be selectively located between the side panel and the rear tip anchor.
The present disclosure relates generally to firearms and weapons technologies. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a configurable cummerbund for a tactical vest, with the configurable cummerbund being capable of being incorporated into body armor and/or used for other applications.
BACKGROUNDUnless otherwise indicated herein, all disclosures in the background are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
Body armor, plate carriers, and/or other types of tactical vests (hereinafter referred to as “tactical vests”) may be used for various purposes. For example, tactical vests may be used to protect wearers from sharp and fast-moving objects such as knives, bullets, shrapnel, and the like. Similarly, tactical vests may be worn by law enforcement, military, and/or civilian users to carry gear such as flashlights, navigation systems, communication systems, ammunition, explosives, maps, body armor plates, and the like. Thus, tactical vests have become popular in many markets and among a diverse group of users and/or consumers.
SUMMARYThe present disclosure is directed to a configurable cummerbund for a tactical vest. Embodiments of the configurable cummerbund for a tactical vest illustrated and described herein can include a cummerbund front tip anchor, which can be located at a first (e.g., front) end of the configurable cummerbund. The cummerbund front tip anchor can have two surfaces, with a cummerbund front tip anchor inner attachment surface located on an inside (e.g., configured for facing the body of a wearer) of the configurable cummerbund and a cummerbund front tip anchor outer attachment surface located on an outside (e.g., configured to face away from the body of a wearer) of the configurable cummerbund. One or more cummerbund webs (and preferably three cummerbund webs in some embodiments) can be attached to the cummerbund front tip anchor and extend along a length of the configurable cummerbund to a second (e.g., rear) end of the configurable cummerbund.
At the second (e.g., rear) end of the configurable cummerbund, the cummerbund web(s) can terminate at a cummerbund rear tip anchor. The cummerbund rear tip anchor can also have two surfaces, with a cummerbund rear tip anchor inner attachment surface located on an inside (e.g., configured for facing the body of a wearer) of the configurable cummerbund and a cummerbund rear tip anchor outer attachment surface located on an outside (e.g., configured to face away from the body of a wearer) of the configurable cummerbund. A cummerbund web slider can be disposed at the cummerbund webs, with the cummerbund webs being configured to slidingly engage (but not be connected to) the cummerbund web slider. The cummerbund web slider can also have two surfaces, with a cummerbund web slider inner attachment surface located on an inside (e.g., configured for facing the body of a wearer) of the configurable cummerbund and a cummerbund web slider outer attachment surface located on an outside (e.g., configured to face away from the body of a wearer) of the configurable cummerbund. The cummerbund web slider can be slid along the cummerbund webs between a side panel and the cummerbund rear tip anchor to adjust the effective length of the configurable cummerbund (and thereby the perceived or effective size of the tactical vest to which the configurable cummerbund is attached). Cummerbund rear tip anchors and cummerbund web sliders of two configurable cummerbunds can be partially and/or completely overlapped to adjust lengths of the cummerbund webs, in some instances. In some other instances, only the cummerbund rear tip anchors may be attached to the tactical vest and the cummerbund web sliders may be disengaged from attachment surfaces of the tactical vests for various reasons.
According to one aspect of the concepts and technologies disclosed herein, a configurable cummerbund for a tactical vest is disclosed. The configurable cummerbund can include a first end; a second end; a cummerbund front tip anchor located at the first end, the cummerbund front tip anchor including a cummerbund front tip anchor outer attachment surface located at a first side of the cummerbund front tip anchor and a cummerbund front tip anchor inner attachment surface located at a second side of the cummerbund front tip anchor; two or more webs attached to the cummerbund front tip anchor and extending along a length from the first end to the second end; and a side panel attached to the two or more webs. The side panel can include a first side that is configured to face away from a wearer and a second side that is configured to face toward the wearer. The configurable cummerbund can further include a cummerbund rear tip anchor located at the second end, the cummerbund rear tip anchor including a cummerbund rear tip anchor outer attachment surface located at a first side of the cummerbund rear tip anchor and a cummerbund rear tip anchor inner attachment surface located at a second side of the cummerbund rear tip anchor; and a cummerbund web slider located at the two or more webs between the side panel and the cummerbund rear tip anchor. The two or more webs can pass through and slidingly engage cummerbund web slider web channels, whereby the cummerbund web slider can be configured to be selectively located between the side panel and the cummerbund rear tip anchor.
In some embodiments, the cummerbund front tip anchor further can include a cummerbund front tip anchor pull tab that can be configured to be manipulated to disengage the cummerbund front tip anchor from an attachment surface of the tactical vest. In some embodiments, the cummerbund rear tip anchor inner attachment surface can include a hook material, and the cummerbund rear tip anchor outer attachment surface can include a loop material. In some embodiments, the cummerbund rear tip anchor inner attachment surface can include a further hook material that can be configured to engage a further loop material of a further cummerbund web slider of a further configurable cummerbund.
In some embodiments, the cummerbund front tip anchor inner attachment surface can include a hook material, and the cummerbund front tip anchor outer attachment surface can include a loop material. In some embodiments, the cummerbund rear tip anchor can be configured to overlap and engage a further cummerbund web slider of a further configurable cummerbund, and the cummerbund web slider can be configured to overlap and engage a further cummerbund rear tip anchor of the further configurable cummerbund.
In some embodiments, the cummerbund rear tip anchor outer attachment surface can include a loop material that can be configured to engage a hook material of a rear cummerbund attachment area cover of the tactical vest, and the cummerbund rear tip anchor outer attachment surface can include a further loop material that can be configured to engage the hook material of the rear cummerbund attachment area cover of the tactical vest. In some embodiments, the side panel can include a mounting surface located at the first side and a loop material located at the second side. The loop material can be configured to engage a hook material of an accessory or pouch.
According to another aspect of the concepts and technologies disclosed herein, a configurable cummerbund for a tactical vest is disclosed. The configurable cummerbund can include a first end; a second end; and a cummerbund front tip anchor located at the first end, the cummerbund front tip anchor including a cummerbund front tip anchor outer attachment surface located at a first side of the cummerbund front tip anchor and a cummerbund front tip anchor inner attachment surface located at a second side of the cummerbund front tip anchor. The cummerbund front tip anchor can be configured to engage a front cummerbund attachment area of the tactical vest. The configurable cummerbund can further include three webs attached to the cummerbund front tip anchor and extending along a length from the first end to the second end; and a side panel attached to the three webs. The side panel can include a first side that can be configured to face away from a wearer and a second side that can be configured to face toward the wearer. The configurable cummerbund can further include a cummerbund rear tip anchor located at the second end, the cummerbund rear tip anchor including a cummerbund rear tip anchor outer attachment surface located at a first side of the cummerbund rear tip anchor and a cummerbund rear tip anchor inner attachment surface located at a second side of the cummerbund rear tip anchor. The cummerbund rear tip anchor can be configured to engage a rear cummerbund attachment area of the tactical vest. The configurable cummerbund can further include a cummerbund web slider located at the three webs between the side panel and the cummerbund rear tip anchor. The three webs can pass through and slidingly engage three corresponding cummerbund web slider web channels, whereby the cummerbund web slider can be configured to be selectively located between the side panel and the cummerbund rear tip anchor.
In some embodiments, the cummerbund rear tip anchor inner attachment surface can include a hook material, and the cummerbund rear tip anchor outer attachment surface can include a loop material. In some embodiments, the cummerbund rear tip anchor inner attachment surface can include a further hook material that can be configured to engage a further loop material of a further cummerbund web slider of a further configurable cummerbund. In some embodiments, the cummerbund front tip anchor inner attachment surface can include a hook material, and the cummerbund front tip anchor outer attachment surface can include a loop material.
In some embodiments, the cummerbund rear tip anchor can be configured to overlap and engage a further cummerbund web slider of a further configurable cummerbund, and the cummerbund web slider can be configured to overlap and engage a further cummerbund rear tip anchor of the further configurable cummerbund. In some embodiments, the cummerbund rear tip anchor outer attachment surface can include a loop material that can be configured to engage a hook material of a rear cummerbund attachment area cover of the tactical vest, and the cummerbund rear tip anchor outer attachment surface can include a further loop material that can be configured to engage the hook material of the rear cummerbund attachment area cover of the tactical vest. In some embodiments, the side panel can include a mounting surface located at the first side, and a loop material located at the second side, wherein the loop material can be configured to engage a hook material of an accessory or pouch.
According to yet another aspect of the concepts and technologies disclosed herein, a configurable cummerbund for a tactical vest is disclosed. The configurable cummerbund can include a first end including a cummerbund front tip anchor pull tab; a second end including a cummerbund rear tip anchor pull tab; and a cummerbund front tip anchor located at the second end, the cummerbund front tip anchor including a cummerbund front tip anchor outer attachment surface located at a first side of the cummerbund front tip anchor and a cummerbund front tip anchor inner attachment surface located at a second side of the cummerbund front tip anchor. The cummerbund front tip anchor can be configured to engage a front cummerbund attachment area of the tactical vest. The configurable cummerbund further can include three webs attached to the cummerbund front tip anchor and extending along a length from the first end to the second end; and a side panel attached to the three webs. The side panel can include a first side that can be configured to face away from a wearer and a second side that can be configured to face toward the wearer. The configurable cummerbund further can include a cummerbund rear tip anchor located at the first end, the cummerbund rear tip anchor including a cummerbund rear tip anchor outer attachment surface located at a first side of the cummerbund rear tip anchor and a cummerbund rear tip anchor inner attachment surface located at a second side of the cummerbund rear tip anchor. The cummerbund rear tip anchor can be configured to engage a rear cummerbund attachment area of the tactical vest. The configurable cummerbund further can include a cummerbund web slider located at the three webs between the side panel and the cummerbund rear tip anchor. The three webs can pass through and slidingly engage three corresponding cummerbund web slider web channels, whereby the cummerbund web slider can be configured to be selectively located between the side panel and the cummerbund rear tip anchor.
In some embodiments, the cummerbund rear tip anchor inner attachment surface can include a hook material, the cummerbund rear tip anchor outer attachment surface can include a loop material, and the cummerbund rear tip anchor inner attachment surface can include a further hook material that can be configured to engage a further loop material of a further cummerbund web slider of a further configurable cummerbund. In some embodiments, the cummerbund front tip anchor inner attachment surface can include a hook material, and the cummerbund front tip anchor outer attachment surface can include a loop material.
In some embodiments, the cummerbund rear tip anchor can be configured to overlap and engage a further cummerbund web slider of a further configurable cummerbund, and the cummerbund web slider can be configured to overlap and engage a further cummerbund rear tip anchor of the further configurable cummerbund. In some embodiments, the cummerbund rear tip anchor outer attachment surface can include a loop material that can be configured to engage a hook material of a rear cummerbund attachment area cover of the tactical vest, and the cummerbund rear tip anchor outer attachment surface can include a further loop material that can be configured to engage the hook material of the rear cummerbund attachment area cover of the tactical vest.
Other systems, methods, devices, and/or structures according to various embodiments illustrated and described herein will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon review of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, devices, and/or structures be included within this description and be within the scope of this disclosure.
In the following detailed description, references are made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof and that show, by way of illustration, specific embodiments or examples. It must be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely illustrative of the concepts and technologies disclosed herein. The concepts and technologies disclosed herein may be embodied in various and alternative forms, and/or in various combinations of the embodiments disclosed herein. The word “illustrative,” as used in the specification, is used expansively to refer to embodiments that serve as an illustration, specimen, model, sample, or pattern.
Additionally, it should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale, and that some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. In other instances, well-known components, systems, materials or methods have not been described in detail in order to avoid obscuring the present disclosure. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present disclosure. Referring now to the drawings, in which like numerals represent like elements throughout the several figures, aspects of a configurable cummerbund for a tactical vest will be described.
Referring first to
The tactical vest can include a body portion 102. The body portion 102 of the tactical vest 100 can have various shapes, dimensions, and/or configurations. In various embodiments of the concepts and technologies disclosed herein, and as illustrated in
The tactical vest 100 also can include one or more shoulder straps 104. The shoulder straps 104 can be formed in various configurations and/or can include various structures and/or features including, but not limited to, those shown in
As shown in
As visible in
The cummerbund webs 110 can include two or more connection mechanisms, which are not visible in
In some embodiments, such as the embodiment shown in
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
In
The tactical vest 100 also can include body padding and/or body pads (hereinafter referred to as “body pads”) 130. The body pads 130 can be included to pad portions of the chest, stomach, and/or back of the wearer of the tactical vest 100. In some instances, a tactical vest 100 with armor plates and other equipment can weigh fifteen to forty pounds or even more. The body pads 130 can therefore be included in various embodiments for comfort, breathability, and/or other purposes. Similarly, the shoulder straps 104 can include shoulder pads 132, which can pad the should and/or portions of the back and/or chest of a wearer of the tactical vest 100. It should be understood that this example embodiment is illustrative, and therefore should not be construed as being limiting in any way.
Referring generally to the tactical vest 100 illustrated in
In
Turning now to
Many of the structures and/or features of the rear side 136 of the tactical vest 100 can be similar and/or even identical to the structures and/or features of the front side 134 of the tactical vest 100 illustrated and described above with reference to
In some embodiments, such as the embodiment shown in
As shown in
As shown in
In
It can be appreciated that the rear side 136 of the tactical vest 100 can correspond to a side of the tactical vest 100 that is facing the view plane in the view illustrated in
Turning now to
As can be seen in
As shown in
Additionally, as shown in
As can be seen in
Similarly, as shown in
It can be appreciated with reference to
Turning now to
In
Turning now to
As shown in
The cummerbund webs 110 also can pass through a side panel 108. In some embodiments, the side panel 108 can be attached to the cummerbund webs 110 to immobilize the side panel 108 relative to the cummerbund webs 110 (e.g., to prevent sliding of the side panel 108 relative to the cummerbund webs 110). The cummerbund webs 110 can continue through the side panel 108 and can be configured to terminate at a cummerbund front tip anchor 500. The cummerbund front tip anchor 500 can be configured to attach to the front cummerbund attachment area 112 of the tactical vest 100, for example to secure the configurable cummerbund 106 to the tactical vest 100. With additional reference to
As can be seen in
In some embodiments, the front cummerbund attachment area attachment surface 600 can include a loop material and the cummerbund front tip anchor inner attachment surface can include a hook material. Additionally, it can be appreciated that the cummerbund front tip anchor 500 can include a cummerbund front tip anchor outer attachment surface 504. In various embodiments, including the embodiment illustrated in
It can be appreciated with reference to
As shown in
Turning now to
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
Similarly, the cummerbund rear tip anchor 300 illustrated and described herein can have a cummerbund rear tip anchor width wa and a cummerbund rear tip anchor height ha. Although not visible in
Referring now to
Referring now to
As can be seen in
Now that the various structures of the configurable cummerbund 106 have been disclosed, additional features of the configurable cummerbund 106 are disclosed in the other FIGURES. Turning to
As explained herein, the cummerbund webs 110 also can have a length l. In some embodiments, the length l can refer to a portion of the cummerbund web(s) 110 that is located between the side panel 108 and the cummerbund rear tip anchor 300. It should be understood that this example embodiment is illustrative, and therefore should not be construed as being limiting in any way. As shown in
With reference to
Turning now to
Turning first to
Turning now to
Turning now to
Turning now to
Turning now to
As shown in
Various embodiments of the configurable cummerbund 106 illustrated and described herein can have various features and/or provide various benefits that may not be immediately clear from the above description. In particular, various embodiments of the configurable cummerbund 106 can provide a wide range of adjustment (e.g., in terms of length and the like) without requiring snaps, quick releases, ties, or the like. Rather, as illustrated and described herein, the configurable cummerbund 106 can use hook and loop materials on both ends of the configurable cummerbund 106 to attach to the tactical vest 100 without requiring snaps, buckles, ties, or the like. It should be understood that this example embodiment is illustrative, and therefore should not be construed as being limiting in any way.
Additionally and/or alternatively, embodiments of the configurable cummerbund 106 illustrated and described herein can be configured to enable adjustment of the configurable cummerbund 106 at the back of the tactical vest 100, which can assist in keeping the length adjustment and/or configuration of the configurable cummerbund 106 protected (e.g., by covering the cummerbund rear tip anchor(s) 300 of one or more configurable cummerbund(s) 106 in their selected location on the rear cummerbund attachment area 200 using the rear cummerbund attachment area cover 202). Thus, it can be appreciated that the specific placement of one or more cummerbund rear tip anchor(s) 300 of one or more configurable cummerbund(s) 106 on/at the rear cummerbund attachment area 200 can be less susceptible to accidental or deliberate movements by users or others by locating these elements at the back of the tactical vest 100 (relative to placing those elements at the front of the tactical vest 100). It should be understood that this example embodiment is illustrative, and therefore should not be construed as being limiting in any way.
Similarly, if one or more cummerbund web slider(s) 302 configuration of one or more configurable cummerbund(s) 106 are attached to the rear cummerbund attachment area 200 (as attaching the cummerbund web slider(s) 302 to the rear cummerbund attachment area 200 is optional as illustrated and described herein), it can be appreciated that the selected location, placement, and/or configuration of the cummerbund web slider(s) 302 (relative to the rear cummerbund attachment area 200) can be protected (e.g., by covering one or more of the cummerbund web slider(s) 302 of one or more configurable cummerbund(s) 106 in their selected location, configuration, and/or position on or at the rear cummerbund attachment area 200 using the rear cummerbund attachment area cover 202). Thus, it can be appreciated that the specific placement of one or more cummerbund web slider(s) 302 of one or more configurable cummerbund(s) 106 on/at the rear cummerbund attachment area 200 can be less susceptible to accidental or deliberate movements by users or others by locating these elements at the back of the tactical vest 100 (relative to placing those elements at the front of the tactical vest 100). It should be understood that this example embodiment is illustrative, and therefore should not be construed as being limiting in any way.
Similarly, because some wearers and/or users of tactical vests 100 may disconnect one end of the configurable cummerbund 106 from the tactical vest 100 to put on or take off the tactical vest 100, it can be appreciated that placing the elements used to adjust the length of the configurable cummerbund 106 (e.g., the cummerbund rear tip anchor(s) 300 and the cummerbund web slider(s) 302) at the rear of the tactical vest 100 and placing the cummerbund front tip anchor(s) 500 at the front of the tactical vest 100 can enable a user or wearer to easily open one side of the configurable cummerbund 106 without affecting the adjustment of the configurable cummerbund 106 (e.g., by releasing the cummerbund front tip anchor 500 from the front cummerbund attachment area 112). It should be understood that this example embodiment is illustrative, and therefore should not be construed as being limiting in any way.
Although not specifically mentioned above, it can be appreciated that the cummerbund web slider 302 of the configurable cummerbund 106 can provide additional benefits not specifically mentioned above. In particular, it can be appreciated that the configuration of the configurable cummerbund 106 and the wide range of adjustments and/or configurations possible for the configurable cummerbund 106 can result by including, in some embodiments, cummerbund webs 110 that may have a length that longer than some other cummerbunds used in association with plate carriers and/or other tactical vests. Some embodiments of the cummerbund web slider 302 can enable the cummerbund webs 110 to be maintained in their relative positions relative to one another (e.g., without the cummerbund webs 110 overlapping and/or being tangled together, or the like) providing support surfaces for the cummerbund webs 110 between the cummerbund rear tip anchor 300 and the side panel 108. This can enable a user or other wearer of a tactical vest 100 including the configurable cummerbund 106 to lengthen the configurable cummerbund 106 considerably (e.g., by supporting the cummerbund webs 110 and preventing overlapping and/or tangling, the cummerbund web slider 302 can enable the use of long cummerbund webs 110, which can allow longer cummerbund webs 110 and therefore a wider range of adjustment in terms of the cummerbund length lc of the configurable cummerbund 106). It should be understood that this example embodiment is illustrative, and therefore should not be construed as being limiting in any way.
As mentioned herein, the illustrated tactical vest 100 is purely illustrative and should not be construed as being limiting in any way. In particular, embodiments of the configurable cummerbund 106 and/or some elements of the configurable cummerbund 106 can be used in association with various types of vests without departing from the scope of this disclosure. As such, it should be understood that the illustrated embodiments of the tactical vest 100 and the specific configuration of the configurable cummerbund 106 are illustrative and should not be construed as being limiting in any way.
Based on the foregoing, it can be appreciated that a configurable cummerbund for a tactical vest has been disclosed herein. Although the subject matter presented herein has been described with respect to various structural features and/or methodological and transformative acts for forming the configurable cummerbund for a tactical vest and/or the various features thereof, it is to be understood that the concepts and technologies disclosed herein are not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described herein. Rather, the specific features and acts are disclosed as example forms of implementing the concepts and technologies disclosed herein.
The subject matter described above is provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed as limiting. Various modifications and changes may be made to the subject matter described herein without following the example embodiments and applications illustrated and described, and without departing from the true spirit and scope of the embodiments of the concepts and technologies disclosed herein.
Claims
1. A configurable cummerbund for a tactical vest, the configurable cummerbund comprising:
- a first end;
- a second end;
- a cummerbund front tip anchor located at the first end, the cummerbund front tip anchor comprising a cummerbund front tip anchor outer attachment surface located at a first side of the cummerbund front tip anchor and a cummerbund front tip anchor inner attachment surface located at a second side of the cummerbund front tip anchor;
- a plurality of webs attached to the cummerbund front tip anchor and extending along a length from the first end to the second end;
- a side panel attached to the plurality of webs, wherein the side panel comprises a first side that is configured to face away from a wearer and a second side that is configured to face toward the wearer;
- a cummerbund rear tip anchor located at the second end, the cummerbund rear tip anchor comprising a cummerbund rear tip anchor outer attachment surface located at a first side of the cummerbund rear tip anchor and a cummerbund rear tip anchor inner attachment surface located at a second side of the cummerbund rear tip anchor; and
- a cummerbund web slider located at the plurality of webs between the side panel and the cummerbund rear tip anchor, wherein the plurality of webs pass through and slidingly engage cummerbund web slider web channels, whereby the cummerbund web slider is configured to be selectively located between the side panel and the cummerbund rear tip anchor.
2. The configurable cummerbund of claim 1, wherein the cummerbund front tip anchor further comprises a cummerbund front tip anchor pull tab that is configured to be manipulated to disengage the cummerbund front tip anchor from an attachment surface of the tactical vest.
3. The configurable cummerbund of claim 1, wherein the cummerbund rear tip anchor inner attachment surface comprises a hook material, and wherein the cummerbund rear tip anchor outer attachment surface comprises a loop material.
4. The configurable cummerbund of claim 3, wherein the cummerbund rear tip anchor inner attachment surface comprises a further hook material that is configured to engage a further loop material of a further cummerbund web slider of a further configurable cummerbund.
5. The configurable cummerbund of claim 1, wherein the cummerbund front tip anchor inner attachment surface comprises a hook material, and wherein the cummerbund front tip anchor outer attachment surface comprises a loop material.
6. The configurable cummerbund of claim 1, wherein the cummerbund rear tip anchor is configured to overlap and engage a further cummerbund web slider of a further configurable cummerbund, and wherein the cummerbund web slider is configured to overlap and engage a further cummerbund rear tip anchor of the further configurable cummerbund.
7. The configurable cummerbund of claim 1, wherein the cummerbund rear tip anchor outer attachment surface comprises a loop material that is configured to engage a hook material of a rear cummerbund attachment area cover of the tactical vest, and wherein the cummerbund rear tip anchor outer attachment surface comprises a further loop material that is configured to engage the hook material of the rear cummerbund attachment area cover of the tactical vest.
8. The configurable cummerbund of claim 1, wherein the side panel comprises a mounting surface located at the first side, and a loop material located at the second side, wherein the loop material is configured to engage a hook material of an accessory or pouch.
9. A configurable cummerbund for a tactical vest, the configurable cummerbund comprising:
- a first end;
- a second end;
- a cummerbund front tip anchor located at the first end, the cummerbund front tip anchor comprising a cummerbund front tip anchor outer attachment surface located at a first side of the cummerbund front tip anchor and a cummerbund front tip anchor inner attachment surface located at a second side of the cummerbund front tip anchor, wherein the cummerbund front tip anchor is configured to engage a front cummerbund attachment area of the tactical vest;
- three webs attached to the cummerbund front tip anchor and extending along a length from the first end to the second end;
- a side panel attached to the three webs, wherein the side panel comprises a first side that is configured to face away from a wearer and a second side that is configured to face toward the wearer;
- a cummerbund rear tip anchor located at the second end, the cummerbund rear tip anchor comprising a cummerbund rear tip anchor outer attachment surface located at a first side of the cummerbund rear tip anchor and a cummerbund rear tip anchor inner attachment surface located at a second side of the cummerbund rear tip anchor, wherein the cummerbund rear tip anchor is configured to engage a rear cummerbund attachment area of the tactical vest; and
- a cummerbund web slider located at the three webs between the side panel and the cummerbund rear tip anchor, wherein the three webs pass through and slidingly engage three corresponding cummerbund web slider web channels, whereby the cummerbund web slider is configured to be selectively located between the side panel and the cummerbund rear tip anchor.
10. The configurable cummerbund of claim 9, wherein the cummerbund rear tip anchor inner attachment surface comprises a hook material, and wherein the cummerbund rear tip anchor outer attachment surface comprises a loop material.
11. The configurable cummerbund of claim 10, wherein the cummerbund rear tip anchor inner attachment surface comprises a further hook material that is configured to engage a further loop material of a further cummerbund web slider of a further configurable cummerbund.
12. The configurable cummerbund of claim 9, wherein the cummerbund front tip anchor inner attachment surface comprises a hook material, and wherein the cummerbund front tip anchor outer attachment surface comprises a loop material.
13. The configurable cummerbund of claim 9, wherein the cummerbund rear tip anchor is configured to overlap and engage a further cummerbund web slider of a further configurable cummerbund, and wherein the cummerbund web slider is configured to overlap and engage a further cummerbund rear tip anchor of the further configurable cummerbund.
14. The configurable cummerbund of claim 9, wherein the cummerbund rear tip anchor outer attachment surface comprises a loop material that is configured to engage a hook material of a rear cummerbund attachment area cover of the tactical vest, and wherein the cummerbund rear tip anchor outer attachment surface comprises a further loop material that is configured to engage the hook material of the rear cummerbund attachment area cover of the tactical vest.
15. The configurable cummerbund of claim 9, wherein the side panel comprises a mounting surface located at the first side, and a loop material located at the second side, wherein the loop material is configured to engage a hook material of an accessory or pouch.
16. A configurable cummerbund for a tactical vest, the configurable cummerbund comprising:
- a first end comprising a cummerbund front tip anchor pull tab;
- a second end a cummerbund rear tip anchor pull tab;
- a cummerbund front tip anchor located at the second end, the cummerbund front tip anchor comprising a cummerbund front tip anchor outer attachment surface located at a first side of the cummerbund front tip anchor and a cummerbund front tip anchor inner attachment surface located at a second side of the cummerbund front tip anchor, wherein the cummerbund front tip anchor is configured to engage a front cummerbund attachment area of the tactical vest;
- three webs attached to the cummerbund front tip anchor and extending along a length from the first end to the second end;
- a side panel attached to the three webs, wherein the side panel comprises a first side that is configured to face away from a wearer and a second side that is configured to face toward the wearer;
- a cummerbund rear tip anchor located at the first end, the cummerbund rear tip anchor comprising a cummerbund rear tip anchor outer attachment surface located at a first side of the cummerbund rear tip anchor and a cummerbund rear tip anchor inner attachment surface located at a second side of the cummerbund rear tip anchor, wherein the cummerbund rear tip anchor is configured to engage a rear cummerbund attachment area of the tactical vest; and
- a cummerbund web slider located at the three webs between the side panel and the cummerbund rear tip anchor, wherein the three webs pass through and slidingly engage three corresponding cummerbund web slider web channels, whereby the cummerbund web slider is configured to be selectively located between the side panel and the cummerbund rear tip anchor.
17. The configurable cummerbund of claim 16, wherein the cummerbund rear tip anchor inner attachment surface comprises a hook material, wherein the cummerbund rear tip anchor outer attachment surface comprises a loop material, wherein the cummerbund rear tip anchor inner attachment surface comprises a further hook material that is configured to engage a further loop material of a further cummerbund web slider of a further configurable cummerbund.
18. The configurable cummerbund of claim 16, wherein the cummerbund front tip anchor inner attachment surface comprises a hook material, and wherein the cummerbund front tip anchor outer attachment surface comprises a loop material.
19. The configurable cummerbund of claim 16, wherein the cummerbund rear tip anchor is configured to overlap and engage a further cummerbund web slider of a further configurable cummerbund, and wherein the cummerbund web slider is configured to overlap and engage a further cummerbund rear tip anchor of the further configurable cummerbund.
20. The configurable cummerbund of claim 16, wherein the cummerbund rear tip anchor outer attachment surface comprises a loop material that is configured to engage a hook material of a rear cummerbund attachment area cover of the tactical vest, and wherein the cummerbund rear tip anchor outer attachment surface comprises a further loop material that is configured to engage the hook material of the rear cummerbund attachment area cover of the tactical vest.
| 4990115 | February 5, 1991 | Vorhauer et al. |
| 5363863 | November 15, 1994 | Lelli et al. |
| 5503620 | April 2, 1996 | Danzger |
| 6769137 | August 3, 2004 | D'Annunzio |
| 8002159 | August 23, 2011 | Cragg |
| 8142377 | March 27, 2012 | Garth et al. |
| 8353065 | January 15, 2013 | Crye |
| 8572762 | November 5, 2013 | Herbener et al. |
| 9055773 | June 16, 2015 | Crye |
| 9441916 | September 13, 2016 | Seuk |
| 9993039 | June 12, 2018 | Nykoluk et al. |
| 10051948 | August 21, 2018 | Carver et al. |
| 10314355 | June 11, 2019 | Gallo |
| 11041696 | June 22, 2021 | Swan et al. |
| 11079203 | August 3, 2021 | Becker et al. |
| 11805832 | November 7, 2023 | Boland |
| 12402713 | September 2, 2025 | Burnsed, Jr. |
| 12527365 | January 20, 2026 | Friedman |
| 20130098961 | April 25, 2013 | Strum |
| 20160202023 | July 14, 2016 | Osman |
| 20180184733 | July 5, 2018 | LeMarbe |
| 20220079277 | March 17, 2022 | Boland |
| 20230036733 | February 2, 2023 | Hawkins et al. |
| 20230128510 | April 27, 2023 | Kiester |
| 20250072532 | March 6, 2025 | Friedman et al. |
| 20250204616 | June 26, 2025 | Friedman |
| 102393358 | May 2022 | KR |
| 102406462 | June 2022 | KR |
| 102530468 | May 2023 | KR |
- “Tactical Molle Vest Quick Release Skeletal Mesh Cummerbund Strap Side Belt for JPC XPC NCPC CPC Vest,” Aekvinks, retrieved from https://www.amazon.com/Tactical-Vest-Cummerbund-Side-Belt/dp/B09PNCCHZ4?th=1&psc=1 on Jul. 27, 2025.
- “Modular Operator Plate Carrier Gen II,” Condor Elite, Inc., retrieved from https://condoroutdoor.com/products/condor-modular-operator-plate-carrier?srsltid=AfmBOorjpcbpYQvo7G23T-zvOa0rbTWkI5LJNI_ufzaYOE8g0YoysL-D on Jul. 29, 2025.
- “MSV Flex Cummerbund Kit (US Army),” Arbor Arms, retrieved from https://arborarmsusa.com/shop/cummerbund-kits/msv-flex-cummerbund-kit-us-army/?attribute_pa_attachment-type=2-taktic-buckles-3-strand&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22154955503&gclid=Cj0KCQjwnJfEBhCzARIsAIMtfKKAedzF7RTj6Jsl48v2DRUGjztxGJdJUNhXaAZISM_W1mYO_xeDvVUaAly5EALw_wcB on Jul. 28, 2025.
Type: Grant
Filed: Dec 8, 2025
Date of Patent: Sep 8, 2026
Assignee: Ambitec Inc. (Miami Beach, FL)
Inventor: Shiloh Christopher McBee (Bozeman, MT)
Primary Examiner: Katherine M Moran
Application Number: 19/411,860
International Classification: A45F 5/02 (20060101);